title: EGFR and COX-2 protein expression in non-small cell lung cancer and the correlation with clinical features.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the expression of EGFR and COX-2 and their correlation with prognosis in NSCLC METHODS: The paraffin embedded tumor samples of 50 NSCLC patients receiving radical resection were analyzed immunohistochemically for EGFR and COX-2 expression and their prognostic values were explored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The positive rate of EGFR protein in NSCLC tumor cells was 46%, which was significantly higher than its expression in normal lung (p = 0.0234) and paracancerous tissues (p = 0.020). EGFR expression was significantly higher in nodal positive than in nodal negative patients (p = 0.04). The mean survival time for EGFR positive patients (31 months) was significantly lower than that for patients with EGFR negative expression (48 months) (p = 0.008,). In patients receiving post-operation thoracic irradiation, the mean survival time for EGFR positive patients was significantly lower than that for patients without EGFR positive expression (25 vs. 48 months, P = 0.004). The positive rate of COX-2 protein expression in NSCLC tumor cells was 90%, which was significantly higher than that in normal tissue(p = 0.00) and paracancerous tissue (p = 0.00). There was no correlation between COX-2 expression and patient survival, and no correlation between COX-2 and EGFR protein expression (P = 0.555).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  COX-2 and EGFR are over-expressed in NSCLC. EGFR is an independent prognostic factor and a predictive factor for radiotherapy response in NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology, Tumor Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yongmei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Huijiao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Dianying
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Yali
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000201:enzymology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors